I've been struggling with this question for quite some time, and thought I'd solicit a little insight from the Calguns crew.

I have a LTC and work out at a gym near my office several time a week. What is the best way to store my handgun while I'm working out? Because I shower at the gym and go right to work, the only two options that I see are to 1) leave it in the car or 2) lock it in my gym locker. In addition to deciding where to lock it up, do I need to unload it every time I lock it up in either place, or can I leave it loaded?

To this point, I have been leaving it unloaded in a locked container in the car (Nanovault w/ security cable attached to seat frame), but I really don't like going through the process of unholstering/unloading/clearing in the car, then reloading, chambering, and reholstering in the car after working out. I'd much rather lock my loaded/holstered weapon in the Nanovault, and be done. You may disagree, but to me, the daily loading/unloading process increases the risk of a negligent/accidental discharge compared to locking up a loaded/holstered weapon.

So, what about leaving it in the gym locker? I'm certainly not going to pull out my firearm and load/unload while in the locker room, so it would seem the only option here would be to leave it loaded/holstered in the locker.

All else being equal, I'll make the decision about car or locker based on my perception of which is less likely to be broken into. My real question is, are there any PC requirements that address whether the firearm must be unloaded if I'm going to lock it up in either a locker or a locked container in my unoccupied car? Or am I OK to lock it up holstered/loaded in either place?

Obviously, opinions are welcomed (it's Calguns, so not like I have a choice?), but I'm particularly interested in anyone that can cite a relevant source (PC Sections, etc). Thanks!

The 'loaded in public' PC applies to people who are not exempted by LTC.

I'd leave it loaded, but in my car.

It's no worse to have a gun and its magazine stolen when they are apart than when they are properly put together.

I'll agree with Librarian on leaving it in the car... however if you're in the habit of removing your holster in the car eventually someone passing by will catch you unawares, and provide incentive for someone to break into the car to obtain your gun while you are having your workout. If you want to avoid that possibility, you may want to pull into a secluded spot a couple blocks from the gym, transfer the gun to the lockbox out of sight of the general public. Then proceed to your workout and repeat on the way out.

I generally don't trust gym lockers to store valuables. You could easily avoid scrutiny by going into a bathroom stall with your gym bag, transfer the gun (in the holster) to the bag and then stick the bag in the locker. That's if you trust the lockers. Most of the people who work there can access the lockers (unless it is a BYO lock place) and I have to wonder how trustworthy they are. Plus those lockers in general are easily pried open if there is sufficient motivation involved.

Why don't you keep it in your gym bag next to you while you work out? That includes the shower.

I thought about addressing that in my original post, but didn't want to further complicate it. I do a number of things at the gym, and when I'm lifting or on a treadmill, that would be an option. However, when I'm swimming or playing basketball, not so much. Just too easy for someone to pick it up and carry it off while I'm distracted.

I don't ever leave my gun in the car, because it is much too common in fresno for people to break in. Many, many people in unfortunate circumstances "test" to see if vehicles are locked around here, and if it isn't, they move in, nearly immediately, in broad daylight, with me watching. (It happened right in front of my house) Even so, if the vehicle is locked, and there is anything tempting them, they will break in.

I would not want someone to have a chance to get your firearm, but that is just me. I like the locking case in the truck, but people might see that also, and be motivated to try to take it.

I like the idea of you possibly taking it into the gym, and not letting it get more than a few feet from you, but that seems a bit extreme.

Do you really need your firearm right up until you go into the gym? How about locking it in the trunk when you leave home, and removing it after you are done with the gym?

I thought about addressing that in my original post, but didn't want to further complicate it. I do a number of things at the gym, and when I'm lifting or on a treadmill, that would be an option. However, when I'm swimming or playing basketball, not so much. Just too easy for someone to pick it up and carry it off while I'm distracted.

Oh, ok. That is understandable. I was not thinking about those options.

Leave it in your car i a lock box. Do not leave it in the gym locker, those things get robbed a lot.

They do. Unfortunately, there has been a recent spate of vehicle break-ins in the parking lot as well. That's really what got me thinking about this again.

Regarding lock box in the trunk vs. in the car. My lockbox is out of sight and attached to the car with a cable. There are no visible valuables in the car (not even a CD case or set of sunglasses). Coupled with the back seat trunk pass-through, I don't think locking it in the trunk would bring me any greater comfort leaving it in the car than I have now, but I definitely understand and appreciate the comments.

A gym lockbox is worse than leaving a gun in plain sight. If an employee sees a valuable box that you bring to the gym every day plan on it coming up missing one day. They won't assume its a gun, but a crooked employee will assume its a diamond ring or some valuable jewelry worth a fast dollar.

As far as leaving the complete weapon in the car, unless it has tinted windows id avoid doing that too. Any numbskull with a brick and sneakers can bust in and make off with the firearm.

Best thing to do is to clear the piece, field strip it and take the slide and barrel with you into the gym. Actually, it may be wiser to take the receiver with you in light of California's registration requirement. A loaded mag is useless without a frame to insert it in, and if a crook makes off with your gym bag they still are denied a functional gun.

As far as concealing administrative handling of the weapon, I would open the trunk , put the firearm and parts in an empty compartment of a gym bag, and complete the assembly and dis-assembly inside the bag with the lid open. Passers by will assume you're looking for something in the trunk, and the sound of metal on metal won't arouse suspicion.

Personally, I would just shower somewhere else. Having a CCW means doing things kinda different than unarmed citizens. Even in SD we have places carry isn't legal, so if I need to visit a post office or courthouse ill follow the steps above.

One tip-if you can, purchase window tint that as dark as legally possible for your car .My car has the darkest tint money can buy and its the best upgrade I ever did . Not only does my car look good , I can handle ammo, pistols, rifles, and gear without prying eyes or hoplophobe witnesses.

front side window tint is illegal in cali... enforced to varying degress (that said, my windows are all tinted). Best bet is to trunk the gun discretely while you work out, but be careful not to be obvious when u move it to the trunk; watch who is watching you and maybe park trunk side first so you are more shielded in placing things in the trunk. I wish I had these LTC problems.

__________________
NRA Lifetime Member

If you don't like the price of something I am selling please feel free to move along... The market, not you, will determine what it's worth. Thanks!

front side window tint is illegal in cali... enforced to varying degress (that said, my windows are all tinted). Best bet is to trunk the gun discretely while you work out, but be careful not to be obvious when u move it to the trunk; watch who is watching you and maybe park trunk side first so you are more shielded in placing things in the trunk. I wish I had these LTC problems.

AH!

This reminds me of another tool available to the conscientious gun owner.If your vehicle has a pass through rear seat which can be folded down , you can use that feature to pop the seatback down and slide your ammo, rifles, gear, and other soccer-mom upsetting materials discreetly from inside the car to the trunk and back without anyone being the wiser.

I got this as a present and take it everywhere now. Works well for any of my needs and is secure as well as comfortable. Don't see a reason you couldn't use it for a gym bag, or one of their other systems if you need a larger or smaller size.

__________________“Out of every one hundred men, ten shouldn't even be there, eighty are just targets, nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back.”
― Heraclitus

People pry and cut byol locks allll the time at the gym. I wouldn't feel comfortable even leaving it the gym parking lot, but then again it's SoCal.

__________________Yellowfin:The 2A in its true intent of what it protects can be summed up in one word: parity. Self defense means self defense from ANYTHING, and parity is being on level playing field with whatever threat may be.

When I lived in the city, I would have been very hesitant to leave a handgun in my locker. It was a large downtown gym, the locker room was always crowded and well lit, and even though I never had a break in there in more than 10 years, it did happen to a few others. Also, it would have been practically impossible to get a gun in and out of a locker without eventually being seen. In that situation, where I worked right across the street and took the train to and from the office, I would have left a gun locked up in my office and gone back to get it afterwards, probably only a 5-minute detour.

Now, I'm in a smaller city, at one of the smallest gyms in that city, and very few men work out there at least at the time of day that I do. Usually I have the (very small, 12 lockers) locker room to myself, and there's never been more than one other person in there at a time. The staff is entirely female so they aren't going to be in there during public hours, and anyone coming out of the locker room has to walk down the stairs in full view of any part of the workout area. In that context, I think the locker is safer than the car, we do have a few street people in that part of town. The office is still an option, since it's about a three block walk away.

If you're driving to the gym and it's a typical crowded gym, I'm not sure if there are any easy options, there's some slight level of risk either way. That's a shame, because I think a regular workout contributes to good shooting by building strength and raising energy and awareness levels.

I have seen people getting shot and stabbed outside of gyms. So, taking the gun with you in and out is a good idea, i think. If it comfortable enough, you could just workout with it on you.

Any insights on workout gear that solidly conceals a firearm?

I run on a treadmill twice a week, and can only imagine what would happen if my carry gun fell out of a holster and hit the floor-or worse the track of the treadmill! Where I live is a long way from California in terms of culture and distance, but id be escorted out the door if that happened .

The only solution that occurs to me -if the weapon is small enough-is to use a small Nike drawstring backpack and keep the piece in there.This won't work if the gym has a "No Bags" rule , but theft is deterred on account of the bag being on your back.You're limited in certain workouts this way, and you'll have to find a way to keep the bag in your sight during your workouts,but this is the only solution I can think of and practically conceal it. Wearing exercise shorts and a top doesn't leave any room to hide a credit card, much less a firearm.

I have seen people getting shot and stabbed outside of gyms. So, taking the gun with you in and out is a good idea, i think. If it comfortable enough, you could just workout with it on you.

I'd be really hesitant to carry on the gym floor while working out, too many moves that could pull clothing tight over the gun, too much chance of brushing with others moving through hallways.

However, thinking back on some of the long, solitary night time training runs back in my marathon running days, runs that originated more often than not from that big city gym... it would have been reassuring to have some protection. That would have required a fairly solid and comfortable carry rig, and likely some trial and error to find the right setup.

Anytime I go somewhere that I am unable or don't want to bring my gun in with me, I leave loaded in one of these in the car. Just leave the holster where attached to your pants (or wherever it is normally attached) in your locker. It is easy to holster and unholster discreetly in the car. Fiddling with your gun to unload and load it is just adding extra time where you are exposed to somebody seeing your gun and having a panic that will result in you face down on the asphalt at gunpoint. Keep it simple.

While lifting or running on a treadmill, carry it in a belly band. I have often thought about this, because there is a large Hells Angels/Seekers & Norteño presence in my gym at certain times. It's not hard to imagine rivals coming in and stuff getting sideways. I've seen a lot of surveillance video of bikers/gang members getting in gunfights at public places, so it is a legitimate concern. The gun doesn't do you any good if it's not on you & readily available.

On a lighter note, when you're in the pool, carry it in a Smart Carry under your speedo. People will just think you have a huge dong.